The Release of Barabbas

¹⁵Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. ¹⁶At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. ¹⁷So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” ¹⁸For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him (Matthew 27:15). 

 

At Passover, a tried criminal could be forgiven for his crime and released. Appearing before all the people and sitting on his judgment seat, the procurator, Pontius Pilate, proposed releasing one person and suggested Jesus be the One freed.
Inside the Praetorium, the official residence of Pilate, a man was awaiting crucifixion. Perhaps, he was reflecting over the many sins that he had committed over his lifetime. It was Friday morning, the day of preparation where the Passover lambs would be killed that day. He thought upon his approaching death and the fact that the soldiers would be coming for him at any time that morning. I am sure he had seen people being crucified before and was aware of the painful death awaiting him. Perhaps, he tried to prepare himself for it by praying, but God seemed a long way off to him. He was scared. What would death be like? He had lived a sinful life and had lived in hatred of the Romans for many years. He had been tried as an insurrectionist and for an act of murder, and he was found guilty on both counts. Now, all he could do was await his fate. His name was Barabbas.

 

In just a few hours, Barabbas would be dead by crucifixion, and he was sure that, if there were a hell, he would go there, for he had no hope. What would God do with him? Would he spend eternity in hell because of the murder and rebellion he had committed? Barabbas heard a commotion in the street outside his jail cell but could see nothing. He knew that something was happening, but he had no idea of just what was going on. All he knew was that he was scheduled to be crucified that morning with two others. The Praetorium was also the place where Pilate adjudicated all cases brought before him.

 

Jewish tradition held that it was defiling for a Jew to be in a building that was not Jewish, so the Praetorium courtyard was used for the place of judgment so that the Jewish leadership could remain ritually clean for the Passover. Barabbas trembled when he heard quite distinctly a multitude of people shouting from the direction of the large courtyard, “Barabbas, Barabbas!" He puzzled over why they would be loudly calling his name. His heart would have sunk when he heard the words, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Ten minutes later, he saw the Roman jailer coming down the corridor with the keys in his hands. His heart skipped a beat. It was time to die. Instead of being crucified, though, the soldier angrily set him free. He found out that another had taken his place.

 

Pilate’s last act of trying to appease the Jewish leaders was to have Jesus flogged. Even after the scourging, the crowd cried out for the death penalty of crucifixion. Pilate brought up the ancient law of releasing one criminal for the Passover feast. He thought he would get Jesus off the hook of the religious leaders. He would have them choose between Barabbas (his name means son of the father) and Jesus, the real Son of the Father. Barabbas was released, and Jesus was led away to be crucified. I wish I knew what happened to Barabbas. Was the death of a substitute in his place something that worked grace in his heart?

 

None can say that it was the Jewish nation that murdered Jesus; it was all of us, i.e., our sins that took Jesus to the cross. In the foreknowledge of God, it was not just the Jewish nation that was complicit in the death of Jesus. It was non-Jews, too. Jesus could have stopped it at any time and called ten legions of angels to His aid (Matthew 26:53). He willingly went to the cross for all of us to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). We all need a substitute to take our place. It took more than a man, though, to pay the price for our sins. Only the sacrifice of God Himself could pay the price for us to be bought out of the slave market of sin where we were enslaved. Christ is God in the flesh, paying the price of death to free us from sin. Keith Thomas